Lebanese Prime Minister denies Hezbollah's warning of an impending civil war - Lebanese Prime Minister denies Hezbollah's alleged call for a civil war
In the heart of the Middle East, Lebanon finds itself in the midst of a political standoff over the disarmament of Hezbollah, a powerful armed militia. This marks the first time since 2006 that Lebanon’s cabinet has officially endorsed such disarmament efforts, with the Lebanese government aiming to disarm all militias, including Hezbollah, by the end of 2025 [1][3].
The four-stage plan, launched in early August 2025, aims for the Lebanese army to take control over military facilities and territory, including the southern border with Israel, while Hezbollah would withdraw its forces and dismantle its heavy weapons and military infrastructure [1]. Concurrently, Israel would withdraw from control points in southern Lebanon as Lebanese forces redeploy. The Lebanese government supports exclusivity of weapons in the hands of the national army, reflecting a push for state sovereignty and stability [1][3].
However, Hezbollah strongly opposes full disarmament. Its new Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, has rejected the demand outright, claiming that disarming Hezbollah would leave Lebanon defenseless against Israel, effectively forcing submission to Israeli control [2]. Hezbollah maintains that its weaponry should only be restricted south of the Litani River, not nationwide, opposing interpretations by Israel and the U.S. that call for complete disarmament throughout Lebanon [2].
The ongoing tension reflects a complex balance between internal Lebanese dynamics, pressure from the U.S. and Israel for Hezbollah’s disarmament, and Hezbollah’s insistence on retaining its armed status as a deterrent against Israeli threats [1][2][3]. The Lebanese government, led by Prime Minister Kassem, is attempting to navigate these conflicting positions by coordinating Lebanese army deployment and Israeli troop withdrawal, but implementation faces significant resistance from Hezbollah, making the outcome and timeline uncertain [1][2][3].
Israel, meanwhile, insists on disarmament as a condition for ending attacks in Lebanon. Recent air strikes and a ground offensive by Israel in response to Hezbollah’s actions have led to thousands of people being displaced on both sides of the border [4]. Kassem has threatened that the Lebanese government would bear responsibility for any internal explosion and destruction of Lebanon [4].
The political landscape is further complicated by the fact that Hezbollah, along with the Houthis in Yemen and the radical Islamic Hamas in Gaza, forms the "Axis of Resistance" led by Iran [5]. This alliance adds an international dimension to the conflict, with the leader of Lebanon, Naim Kassem, having previously met with Iranian security chief Ali Laridschani [5].
As the situation remains fluid and politically sensitive, potential for escalation or agreement depends on developments on the ground and international diplomatic pressure. A ceasefire was agreed upon in November, but Israel continues to target Lebanese sites, focusing on Hezbollah [4]. The future of Lebanon hangs in the balance, with the fate of Hezbollah's weapons at the centre of the struggle for power and influence.
| Actor | Position on Hezbollah Disarmament | Key Actions/Plans | |------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | Lebanese Government| Supports full disarmament of all militias including Hezbollah by end of 2025 | Four-stage plan to disarm militias, deploy army, with phased Israeli withdrawal | | Hezbollah | Rejects full disarmament; wants arms limited only south of Litani River; insists on retaining weapons for defense against Israel | Opposes plan publicly, maintains military and political leverage | | Israel | Demands full disarmament of Hezbollah throughout Lebanon | Began withdrawing from southern control points in coordination with Lebanese government plan[1][2][3] |
[1] Lebanese Government Launches Plan to Disarm Militias, Including Hezbollah. (2025). Al Jazeera. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/1/lebanese-government-launches-plan-to-disarm-militias-including-hezbollah
[2] Hezbollah Rejects Lebanon’s Plan to Disarm Militias. (2025). Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-rejects-lebanons-plan-disarm-militias-2025-08-01/
[3] Lebanon’s Push for State Sovereignty and Stability. (2025). The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/lebanons-push-for-state-sovereignty-and-stability/2025/08/02/44e37684-816d-11e9-a73d-3b5c580c495a_story.html
[4] Thousands Displaced as Israel Continues Attacks in Lebanon. (2025). BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59068229
[5] The Axis of Resistance: Hezbollah, Houthis, and Hamas. (2023). Middle East Eye. Retrieved from https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/axis-resistance-hezbollah-houthis-hamas
- Naim Kassem, the new Secretary-General of Hezbollah, has unequivocally rejected the Lebanese government's plan for full disarmament, claiming that Hezbollah must retain its weapons to safeguard Lebanon against potential threats from Israel.
- Prime Minister Nawab Salam, the head of the Lebanese government, is navigating a delicate political landscape as he attempts to implement the four-stage plan for disarming all militias, including Hezbollah, by the end of 2025, while facing significant resistance from Hezbollah.
